Electrical-fixture-supporting device



R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Fil ed June 23. 1921 vice, which tixture can Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL-FIXTURE-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Application iled .Tune 23, 1921, Serial No. 479,738. Renewed May 17, 1926.

y invention relates to electrical fixturel supporting devices and connections therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved xture supporting debe readily connected and disconnected with respect to the receptacle, both electrically and mechanically,

A further object of my invention .1s to provide such a device which will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and durable and efficient in use.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is shown- Figure 1 is avertical axial section showing a ixture, receptacle, and connector device;

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the connector device and iixture canopy.

The construction shown in the drawings comprises a. fixture 10, (the stem 11, and the canopy 12 alone being shown) an electrical receptacle 13, a plug-in device 14 for elec-- trically connecting the ixture 10 with the receptacle 143, and a mechanical connecting member or bracket member 15 for mechanically connecting the fixture with respect to the receptacle. n

The plug-in device 14 is carried by the connecting bracket 15, being bodily slidably mounted thereon, to permit thevnecessary lateralmovement of the connecting bracket 15 for making the mechanical connection without interference with the insertion of the contact blades 16 into the openings 17 provided in the receptacle.

The mechanical connecting member 16 is secured to the Supporting plate 18 (which may be a sort of cover for the outlet box) by means of tour hook members 19, which hook over the edges oi: suitable openings in the supporting plate 18. The connection between the connecting bracket 15 and the supporting plate 18 is eiiected by two movements, first, a movement of insertion to bring the hook members 19 back of the plate 18, and second, a downward movement to engage the hook members with the edges of the opening.

The sliding connection between the plugin device 14, the connecting bracket 159 is a front view of the receptacle;

hereinbet'ore referredV to, permits the downward movement of the connecting bracket 15 without interference 'from the engagement ot' the blades 16 in the openings 17. This sliding connection oi' the plug-in device 14 with the connecting bracket 15 is eected by a. pair oi lugs 20 struck up from the material oi' the bracket 15, the insulating base 21 of 'the plug-in device lying between `the lugs 2O on one side, and the body portion of the bracket 15 on the other side. The plugin device 14 is prevented from lateral movement with respect to the connecting bracket l5 by means ot cheek-pieces 22 formed integral with the bracket, the insulating base 21 lying between these cheek-pieces. The lugs 2O may be bent down after theinsulating base 21 is placed in position on the bracket. The bracket 15 may be a sheet metal stamping, the lugs 20, the chelekpieces 22, and the hooks 19 being formed as Yintegral parts of this stamping.

In order to hold the bracket 15 in connected position on the plate 18, latch means are provided for preventing vmovement of the bracket 15 upwardly. f

VThese means comprise a slidably mounted finger 23, which extends through an opening 24 in the bracket 15, and can be made toengage underneath the insulating base 21 ci the plug-in device shown in Fig. 1. Whenl thus engaged, it. will be seen that the bracket 15 cannot be movedv upwardly and hence the hook members 19 cannot be disconnected from the supporting plate 18.

`The outer end of the finger 23 has a` loop or eye portion 25, which surrounds the ixture stem 11 and isV slidable thereon, a coil compression spring 26 being provided tending to holdthe latching linger 23 in latching position. y

VIn order to release the latching inger 23 when desired7 anoperating sleeve 27 is provided on the end of which the coil compression spring 26 bears, and the outer end of which is provided with an outwardly Vextended beaded portion 28, lying outside the canopy 12. The outer end of the coil compression spring 26 bears on a washer 29 secured to the stem 11, which washer serves as an abutment tor supporting the outer end ot the spring. As the beaded portion 28 of the operating sleeve 27 is accessible from the outside of the canopy, all that is necessary in order to eiiect the release of the latching linger is to pull outwardly on the beaded portion 28.

ritter the latching linger 23 has been pulled out from underneath the insulating base 2l, the bracket 15 can be unhooked from the supporting plate 1 8 `simply by lifting up on the fixture stem ll until the hooks l5) are 'tree from thevsupporting plate 18, when the entire dev'ce can be pulled away trein the supporting plate.

It will be noted that the beaded' portion 28 ot the slidable sleeve IQlnot only serves as a handle portion Jfor operating the latching finger 25, but also bears on the canopy l2 to hold its inner edge against the supporting surface 30.

The tiiiturelt) may be secured tothe bracket l5 by means oi' a sheetmetal strap 3l, to which the lixture stem ll is secured, which strap is secured to the bracket l5 by means .et screws This strap 3l may have laterally extending lingers 38, which serve to steady the canopy l2 when the device is disconnected from the receptacle, and prevents the canopy from slipping oil from the stem ll. The usual ornamental finishing plate or escutcheon 34 may be provided in front ot the supporting plate 18.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as neivand desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States is:

l. The combination with a .fixture having a stem, and a rcceptaclei ot means 'tor electrically, and mechanically connecting said lixture with respect to said receptacle coinprising a supporting plate, a bracket connectible with said plate by` movement toward said plate and laterally vitlrrespect thereto, a rplug-in device mounted tor bodily sliding. movement with respect to said bracket, means -for retaining said bracket in connected position. and means for releasing said retaining means comprising a sleeve surrounding said stem.

2. The combination with a fixture having a stem, and a receptacle, ot means for electrically and mechanicallyY connect-ingl said fixture with respect to said receptacle comprising a supporting plate, a bracket connectible with said plate by movement tovvard said plate and laterally with respect thereto, a plug-in device mounted for bodily sliding movement with respect-to said bracket, nreans tor retaii'ung said bracket in connected position, and means 'tor releasing said retaining means comprit-'sing a sleeve surroui'iding said stem, and slidable thereon.

3. The con'ibination with a'lixture having a stem. and a receptacle, ot mea-ns for electrically and mechanically connecting'said fixture with respectto said receptacle, comprising a, supporting plate, a bracket connectible with said plate by movement toward said plate and laterally with respect there to, av plug-in device mounted for bodily Vlatch member and a coil sliding movement witl'i respect to said bracket, and means tin' retaining said bracket in connected position comprising a Spring surrounding sa'idstern `ler l'ifold'ing said latch member in latching position.

4l. The combination' with a lixture and a receptacle, ot vmeans for electrically and mechanically connecting said fixture with respectto said receptacle comprisinga sup plating plate', a bracket eonne'ctible with said plate by iiioveme'nt toward said plate and laterally with respect thereto, a pl '-in device mounted for bodily sliding movementwith respect to Said. bracket, Said bracket having an openingi therein, and means t'or retaining said bracket in connected position comprising a ,linger slidable through the opening in 'said bracket.

5. The combination ivith a :tlxture and a receptacle. of means tor electrically and mechanically connecting said tintura with respect to said receptacle comprising a supporting plate, a bracket connectible with said plate by movement toward said lplate and laterally with respect thereto, a plug-in device mounted lier bodilv sliding movement with respect to said bracket, said bracket having an opening therein, and means `vfor retaii'iingfsaid bracket in connected position comprising a linger Slidable through the oy'ieuin'g in said bracket, vand lengageable with said plug-in device to prevent relative movement betivecn said plug-in device and bracket.

li. Tlie'coinbination With a Iiixtui'ehaving a 'stem7 a canopy having aniopeiiing through which stem extends, and a receptacle, oi" means tor elet'ztric'ally'and mechanically connecting a fixture IWith respect to said receptacle, means tor retaining said fixture mechanically connected` and means 'tor releasing said retaining means comprisina a sleeve surr'oendingr said stein and 'extending through theopeDing in said canopy.

7. The' combination 1with a lixture havingV a'stem, a canopy'having an opening` through means for electrically and mechanicallyconneoting said fixture with respect to said receptacle, 'andspring actuated means tor retaining said' fixture mechanically connected andtor pressing lsaid canopy against a supporting surface.

S. rl`he combination with a Fixture having` Which.saidstenrextends, and a receptacle, ot'

liv.;

lil

and bearing on the canopy to hold it against a supporting surface.

9. The combination with a fixture having a stem, a canopy having an opening through which said stem extends, and a receptacle, of' means for electrically and mechanically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle, means for retaining said fixture mechanically connected comprising a latch member and a spring surrounding said stem and bearing on sai-d latch member, and means for releasing said retaining means and holding said canopy in position comprising a sleeve surrounding said stem and spring and extending through the opening in said canopy, and bearing on said canopy to hold the edge of the canopy against a supporting surface.

10. The combination with a fixture having a stem, a canopy having an opening through which said stem extends, and a receptacle, of means for electrically and mechanically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle, comprising a bracket, and wings mounted on said bracket and engaging said canopy 'for steadying said canopy in position.

ll. The combination with a fixture having a stem, a canopy having an opening therein through which said stem extends, and a receptacle, ot means for electrically and mechanically connecting` sai-d fixture with respect to sai-d receptacle, means for retaining said fixture mechanically connected, and means for releasing said retaining means comprising a sleeve slidable on said stem and extending through the openingin said canopy.

12. The combination with a fixture having a stein, a canopy having an opening therein through which said stem extends, and a receptacle, of means for electrically and mechanically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle, means for retaining said fixture mechanically connecte-d, comprising a spring surrounding said stein, and means for releasing said retaining means comprising a sleeve slidable on said stem and surrounding said spring, and extending through the opening in said canopy.

18. A fixture having a stem, a receptacle, a supporting plate in front of said receptacle having an aperture affording access to sai-d receptacle, said receptacle being substantially fiush with said supporting plate, means for supporting said fixture in position with respect to said receptacle comprising a bracket having hooks for vpassing through said suporting plate and hooking in behind it, means for electrically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle comprising a plug having contacts for engaging the receptacle contacts, said plug-in device being slidably mounted on said bracket, whereby said hooks can be hooked in behind sai-d supporting plate after the plug-in contacts have entered the receptacle, means tending to prevent upward movement of' the bracket to disconnect the hooks, and means for releasing said preventing means comprising a sleeve surrounding the fixture stem.

14. A fixture having a stem, a receptacle, a supporting plate in front of said receptacle having anl aperture affording access to said receptacle, said receptacle being substantially flush with said supporting plate, means for supporting said fixturein position with respect to said receptacle comprising a bracket having hooks for'passing through said supporting plate and hooking in behind it, means for electrically connecting said fixture with respect to said receptacle comprising a plug having contacts for engaging the receptacle contacts, said plug-in device being slidably mounted on said bracket, whereby said hooks can be hooked in behind said supporting plate after the plug-in contacts have entered the receptacle,umeans tending to prevent upward movement ofthe bracket to disconnect the hooks comprising a springpressed finger slidably mounted to move perpendicularly to said supporting plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN'. 

